Lenten/Easter services

Special services are planned during the Easter season.

Posted on March 22, 2013 at 1:00 a.m.
| Updated on March 22, 2013 at 1:13 p.m.

Antiochian Orthodox Church, 65159 C.R. 33, Goshen, invites the community to attend upcoming Lenten services, which will culminate on Pascha (Orthodox Easter) May 5. At 6 p.m. each Friday through April 26 will be an Akathist service to the Theotokos (Mary). These hour-long services include hymns of the Annunciation, Nativity, Christ and the Theotokos herself. The services will be followed by a soup supper and lecture series by Father Matthew Wade, priest at St. Mary’s, on the “Women of the Old Testament.” Following the Akathist service on April 26 is a guided tour of St. Mary’s newest iconography, recently painted by local iconographer and parishioner Brian Whirledge. Sunday is the Sunday of Orthodoxy. St. Mary’s will be celebrating liturgy at 10 a.m. with four Orthodox churches from around the Michiana area, followed by a carry-in meal. Additional Lenten services are at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted: Pre-sanctified Liturgy, Wednesdays through April 24; Annunciation of the Theotokos, 8 a.m. Monday; Bridegroom Matins, April 28-30; Holy Unction and Blessing of Oils, May 1; St. Basil’s Liturgy, 9 a.m. May 2; Reading of the 12 Passion Gospels, May 2; Royal Hours, 8:30 a.m., and Vespers, 4:30 p.m., Good Friday, May 3; Lamentations, Good Friday, May 3; Preparation Prayers, 8 a.m., and St. Basil’s Vesperal Liturgy, 9 a.m., Saturday, May 4. Holy Pascha, the most important service in the Orthodox church, starts at 10:30 a.m. May 4, followed by a middle-of-the-night carry-in dinner. At noon May 5 is Agape Vespers, where the Gospel reading of the first appearance of the risen Lord will be read in as many languages as known by those present. Regular weekly services will continue throughout Lent. For additional information about St. Mary’s or directions to the church, go to www.stmarysorthodox.org.

On Good Friday, March 29, experience the “Journey of the Cross” at Beulah Missionary Church. As you enter the doors you will find yourself transported to first-century Jerusalem. From there you will be escorted from one station to the next by one of Jesus’ disciples, who will share with you scenes of Jesus’ final days. This interactive drama will take place from 2 to 7 p.m. Tours will begin every 10 minutes and will last about 40 minutes. The last tour starts at 7. The church is at 57595 Old C.R. 17, Goshen.

“The Last Supper” drama will be presented by The Last Supper Drama Group of Fort Wayne. at 7 p.m. Sunday, March 24, at Bristol United Methodist Church. The drama uses Da Vinci’s painting as the setting. The words are interpreted from the gospels of the Bible and add a deeper understanding of the expressions portrayed by Da Vinci. In addition to the drama, Big Blast Ministries will have a special presentation for children at 7 p.m. in the Family Life Center of the church. The Raeburn family will use balloons, illusions, music, Bible stories, puppets, art, games and a whole lot of fun to teach the children about Jesus. A nursery will be available for infants through children that are three years old. Free admission. A freewill offering will be taken. Contact the church office at 848-4031 for more information.

The sixth, and last, ecumenical Group Centering Prayer will take place at 7 p.m. Monday, March 25, at College Mennonite Church, 1900 S. Main St., Goshen, in the Koinonia Room. Parking is available on the south side of the church.

Creekside Church of the Brethren of Elkhart, located on C.R. 113 in the Dunlap area, celebrates Holy Week with festivities throughout the week. Palm Sunday Services begin at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 24, with a palm procession and special music. Maundy Thursday service begins at 6 p.m., Thursday, March 28, with the drama “The Other Twelve Disciples: The Women Disciples of Jesus,” followed afterward with foot washing, anointing, Holy Communion and Love Feast. Easter Sunday Sonrise service, a relaxed service, begins at 8 a.m. with activities. Easter breakfast is served from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. The Easter service begins at 10 a.m. with special music and worship. No Sunday school.

Dunlap United Methodist Church, 23674 U.S. 33, will observe Palm Sunday worship at 10 a.m. March 24 with a traditional service with distribution of palms. On Holy Thursday, March 28, there will be a soup and bread supper at 6 p.m., followed by a service of Holy Communion at 7 with the handbell choir assisting. At 7 p.m. on Good Friday, March 29, the chancel choir will lead in the remembrance of Christ’s passion. A joyous observance of Easter begins with the youth leading a 7 a.m. sunrise service on March 31, followed by an Easter breakfast at 7:30. Sunday school will be at 8:30 a.m., with a children’s Easter egg hunt at 9:30. The celebration of the Resurrection will be at 10, with the combined choirs participating.

MDC Goldenrod will sponsor a play about Easter at 3 and 6 p.m. Saturday, March 23, and 4 p.m. Sunday, March 24, in the chapel at Bethany Christian Schools, 2904 S. Main St. (S.R. 15), Goshen. The actors are members of Project Promise, a program of MDC Goldenrod that provides spiritual and social support for people with disabilities. There is no cost for admission. Freewill offerings will be accepted. Visit www.mdcgoldenrod.org for more information about MDC Goldenrod.

Nappanee Church of the Brethren, 301 Mack Dr., Holy Week schedule: 6 p.m. Maundy Thursday, March 28, Love Feast Communion with foot washing. There will be a complete meal like Jesus shared with his followers. Noon to 1 p.m. Good Friday, March 29, Nappanee Ministers Association hosts Good Friday Service at the Nappanee United Methodist Church. Seven area ministers will talk about the last seven words of Christ. A freewill offering will be taken and divided between FCDC and Open Door food ministries.

Penn Friends Community Church, 19107 Penn Road, at the corner of Penn and Quaker streets, Cassopolis, will present the Easter musical “The Sacrifice: Greater Love Has No One Than This,” created by Steve Moore and David T. Clydesdale, arranged and orchestrated by David T. Clydesdale at 7 p.m. Good Friday, March 29, and at 10:30 a.m. Easter Sunday, March 31. The musical includes a video dramatization of the Easter story. Child care and cry room provided. Call 269-445-8546 for more information.

St. James A.M.E. Church Drama Ministry, 122 Martin Luther King Dr., will present “It Wasn’t Me” at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 30. Not your traditional Easter play, not your traditional Easter concert, but a moving experience. The Elkhart Area Ministrial Association invites you to join St. James A.M.E. and other historically Black Methodist Churches for a Good Friday service on “The Last Seven Words of Christ” from noon to 1:30 p.m. on March 29.

St. John of the Cross in Bristol: Last fall Steve Streeter and Cyd Sunday led a Bible study based on Lois Tverberg’s book “Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus.” During the season of Lent church members will continue the study with Part Two of that book. Anyone is welcome to attend, and books are still available. Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. during Lent there will be a soup supper and a time of study, and the evening will finish with Compline. Information: 848-7114.

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church Holy Week Services: 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. March 24, Palm Sunday celebration with palms. Maundy Thursday, March 28, the church will be open from 6 to 8 p.m. for meditation, prayer and Holy Communion. People may come and go as they please. Good Friday, March 29, Elkhart area United Methodist churches will gather for a Good Friday worship experience at St. Paul’s. The service will be in two parts: Stations of Holy Week — various rooms in the church will be prepared to represent the Upper Room, the prison of our Lord and the judgment room. Persons who can climb stairs may visit these rooms from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m., when a host will share the story of Jesus’ journey through each station to the cross. Good Friday Service, 7 p.m. in the sanctuary: This service of drama, liturgy and music from a combined choir will invite worshippers to reflect on the choice of the cross for those who encountered Jesus in his day and for us today. Easter Sunday, March 31, Resurrection celebration during the 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. services. The church is at 405 W. Beardsley Ave.